Wildcats will be a test

Grove Menzieshill have an interesting start to the indoor league when they face Western Wildcats at Bell’s Sports Centre, Perth. Not normally one of the top indoor teams, this season may be different for Western given their excellent showing outdoor, including two 2-1 victories over Menzieshill.

Menzieshill’s greater experience at the indoor game should, however, show through, as it should in their second game against Dunfermline Carnegie who were a revelation last season in gaining promotion to the top tier.

It is important that Menzieshill win both matches to try to wrestle the title from Inverleith.

Dundee Wanderers, arguably always a better team indoor than outdoor, face the same opponents as Menzieshill.

Again, Wanderers’ expertise indoor should see them through against Carnegie but Western may, on this occasion, pose more of a threat.

It may be that one advantage for Western may be that they are playing their outdoor hockey in Division 1, currently in second place behind Grange, while Wanderers are in Division 2, albeit winning all matches to date.

Menzieshill II and Perthshire both have three games in Division 2 at DISC and it is likely that their results will be poles apart.

Watsonians who, like Menzieshill, won their first two games, may be the most difficult test of the day but Hillhead and Perthshire should yield the points.

Monarchs may give Watsonians a good test in their first game and, irrespective of that result, should pick up the points against Hillhead.

Six of the 10 Division 3 games at Bell’s Coaching Hall have local interest.

There appears to be little to choose between the teams after the first round of matches, except possibly for Inverleith II who were the only team to open with two wins.